B u f f a l o P h i l h a r m o n i c O r c h e s t r a J o A n n F A l l e t t A M u s i c D i r e c t o r

2015 Report to the Community

Artist ic Excellence and Community Involvement

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Dear friends of the BPO,Although we are in the middle of another exciting year, we wanted to review for you the achievements of the 2014-15 season. It was truly an incredible year for the BPO – a year of collaboration and of artistic achievement at the highest level. From amazing glasswork to hilarious theatrical comedy, it was a year to remember. It also included some transitions as we welcomed new faces to the BPO Family. Three national searches brought us new artistic leaders: Stefan Sanders became our new Associate Conductor, John Morris Russell, our new Principal Pops Conductor and we also appointed a new concertmaster, Dennis Kim.

As has become our practice, we view our year through the lens of three important strategic themes:

Grow our Audience We continue to explore new ways to market the BPO and reach out to new and younger audiences using digital tools and special programming.

Summer concerts brought us to the Shaw Festival Theatre for the first time. With concerts at ArtPark, Niawanda Park, Clarence Town Park and many other outdoor venues, we reached more than 45,000. Total attendance for the season topped 203,000.

In response to the school community’s request for greater access, the BPO’s annual educational concert broadcast was made available On Demand. 130 schools from 37 districts in Western New York took advantage of this new resource. Once again, the BPO served more than 40,000 young people through educational programs.

develop And Grow ArtisticAlly We released three new CDs: Built for Buffalo, Bartók: Kossuth –Two Portraits and Nordic Masters featuring the works of Sibelius and Nielsen.

A festival celebrating the music of Charles Ives, one of America’s greatest composers, was presented in partnership with UB, the Burchfield Penney Art Center and the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, and with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

operAte with excellence And FiscAl responsibility The BPO again balanced its budget on revenues of $11.5 million, 84% of which was spent on programs.

Fundraising is at a new high with almost $4.7 million raised for the season. Subscription revenue of nearly $1.9 million was at an all time high and combined with single ticket revenue and other sources, brought earned revenue to more than 35% of the budget.

This is an exciting time for the BPO and our internationally acclaimed hall. We look forward to seeing you at an upcoming concert and thank you for your support.

Sincerely,

Louis P. Ciminelli JoAnn Falletta Daniel HartChair Music Director Executive Director

Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Society, Inc. | 2014-15 Board of Trustees• Louis Ciminelli, Chair • Dennis Black, Vice Chair-Chair Elect • Angelo Fatta, Vice Chair •

• Stephen Swift, Treasurer • Randall Odza, Secretary • Cindy Abbott Letro, • Martin Anderson • • Karen Arrison • Douglas Bean • James Beardi • Anthony Cassetta • Janz Castelo> •

• Mark Collard* • Arthur Cryer • Peter Eliopoulos • Warren E. Emblidge, Jr. • JoAnn Falletta* •

• John Fleischman* • Daniel Hart • Martha Malkiewicz • Robbie Hausmann> •

• Monte Hoffman> • Martha Hyde • Gary Schober • Roger Simon • Robert Skerker •

• Timothy Smith> Scott Stenclik • Gary Szakmary • Nicole Tzetzo • Michal Wadsworth •

• John Yurtchuk • * ex-officio > musician

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ARTISTIC EXCELLENCEJoAnn Falletta to remain on the podium through 2021!The biggest news of the year was the extension of Maestro Falletta’s contract. She has brought the BPO to a new level of excellence and her guest appearances around the world bring accolades back to Buffalo. Under her direction, the Buffalo Philharmonic is continuing its trajectory as one of the most recorded orchestras in America.

Gala Season OpenerRenée Fleming packed the hall and presented a joyous performance in stunning style. Her enthusiasm for Buffalo and dazzling talent set the tone for the season. Funds raised at the Gala (sponsored by the Louis P. Ciminelli Family Foundation), support the BPO’s extensive educational programs.

Chihuly and Bartók Bartók’s Bluebeard’s Castle was a remarkable experience with glass sets made by Seattle artist Dale Chihuly in a production that will not soon be forgotten. The nearly sold out event showcased partnerships with WNED TV, the Albright Knox Art Gallery, Corning Museum of Glass and local students.

Le Bourgeois GentilhommeMusic by Richard Strauss provided the backdrop for the Irish Classical Theatre and LehrerDance to join the BPO in a rarely performed presentation of one of Molière’s best loved comedies.

BeethovenAudiences flocked to the two week Beethoven Festival, including his iconic Symphony No.9 “Chorale.” The BP Chorus was an exceptional partner in this tour de force.

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COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENTBPO Pops and Rocks!Throughout the year, audiences flocked to the Pops and Rock Series concerts. One standout concert was the special engagement of the Alan Parsons Project on the Rock Series. Stars of TV and Broadway, Matthew Morrison and Megan Hilty, drew rave reviews on the Pops Series, with other big moments provided by the Glenn Miller Orchestra and the Hit Men.

Family Series increaseAttendance for BPO Kids concerts has almost doubled to over 9,000 this year. Improved programming led the way, but involving educators, parents and musicians in the planning, adding quality pre-concert activities and partnerships with local businesses, plus online and social media promotion spelled success. We also added a special new program: BPO Kids for Exceptional Kids working with John R. Oishei Women’s and Children’s Hospital and the families of special needs children.

Yale Education Award The BPO’s West Side Connection, a partnership with the Buffalo Public Schools, was awarded the prestigious Yale Distinguished Music Education Partnership Award. This multicultural program involves students at 12 schools in the Kleinhans neighborhood and also is designed to reach the increasing number of people moving here through the UN Refugee Resettlement Program.

Maestro Ferington retiresAfter 30 years with the BPO, Paul Ferington hung up his baton. For all these years, he has donated his services and brought the BPO to new audiences across the region. His farewell concert at the Buffalo Bison’s Independence Eve celebration was a moving event – complete with a huge fireworks send-off. At the final M&T Classics concert of the season, the BPO recognized violinist Frances Kaye, retiring after 45 years and Duane Saetveit, French hornist, who retired after 43 years.

National and International Reach

“ The performance could hardly be bettered: JoAnn Falletta and the Buffalo Philharmonic are completely at home in this music.”

—Gramophone

“ …this interpretation is the real thing; the energy, enthusiasm, and grandeur of Falletta’s reading are graphic evidence of her love of this music.”

—americanrecordGuide

“ Rarely has an orchestra sounded so purely beautiful in sound, balance and clarity.”

—palmBeachdailynews

“ The Buffalo Players performed alertly and eloquently, offering an account to savor.”

—newyorkTimes

“ A performance of tremendous mastery and power…”

—FanFare

“ The Buffalo Philharmonic shows itself at its best and rises to the highest level with its beautiful and vibrant sound.”

—pizzicaTodailynews

GLIÈRE, Symphony No. 3, International Classical Music Awards Nominee, American Record Guide Critic’s Choice, MusicWeb Recording of the Year, Fanfare Want List, BBC Music Magazine Orchestral Choice

—cleFdumois

Through its extensive recordings both on the international NAXOS label and Beau Fleuve, the BPO’s own label, the orchestra is heard around the world. More than 200 cities across the U.S. broadcast BPO concerts via American Public Media’s popular radio program Performance Today, reaching millions of listeners. Local listeners as far as Toronto, and those streaming the station internationally, hear the BPO on WNED FM every week during Philharmonic Fridays. Last year the British Website BachTrack hosted the World’s Favorite Orchestra poll in which the BPO finished third, garnering votes from all corners of the globe!

The BPO family thanks you!

M i s s i o n s t a t e M e n t

The Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra Society, Inc. provides a resident, professional, major symphony orchestra of artistic excellence and integrity to enrich the quality of life in Western New York through the presentation of live symphonic music and other musical events which educate and entertain the broadest possible audiences within and beyond the Western New York region.

”I’ve enjoyed every place I conducted. But there’s a rightness about this place. Yes, we can make good things happen here. And what can be more deeply satisfying than that? We can play for a community we know and love. That is truly a collaborative relationship, and it’s rare.”

— J o A n n F A l l e t t A

c o m m e n t i n g o n h e r c o n t r A c t e x t e n s i o n , m A k i n g h e r b y F A r t h e l o n g e s t t e n u r e d

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VISIT US at bpo.org or CALL (716)885-0331

Erie County

B U F F A L O P H I L H A R M O N I C O R C H E S T R A499 Franklin Street • Buffalo, NY 14202

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